Improvement in water-elevators



W. BU RDON.

improvement in Water-Elevators.

N0.129,64'8. PatentedJu|y23,1872.

ivrrnn STATES rricn.

IMPKOVEMENT IN WATER-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,648, dated July 23,1872; antedated July 20, 1872.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that' I, WILLIAM BURDON, of the city of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising and Lowering Water by theCondensation and Pressure of Steam; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspeciiication.

This invention relates to apparatus of a double-acting or continuouskind for raising and forcing water, in which a vacuum is formed by thecondensation of steam alternately in two adjacent cylinders or chambers,and the water, which is raised by atmospheric pressu're alternatelywithin either chamber by reason of the vacuum, is subsequently andalternately expelled from said chambers by the pressure of steam, thecondensation of which produces a vacuum within either chamber forarepetition of the process. The improvements consist in a combinationwith such apparatus of a ioat or floats, having a limited motion withinthe main chambers up and down perforated pipes in communication at theirupper ends with a valve-box or chamber, the valve of which controls theingress of steam to the main chambers, said oats serving to shut off thesteam from either main chamber before water is admitted to effectcondensation therein 5 also serving to pass steam to effect the reversalof the valve. Springs maybe used under the iioats to assist in givingthem a lively or quick upward action for the purpose of preventing backaction on the valve as a vacuum is formed in either main chamber. Theimprovements also comprise an arrangement of upper floats with attachedsleeves, and perforated pipes with check-valves, for causing the water,as it completes its ascent in either one of the main chambers, to pass alimited portion of it into the upper portion of the other chamber toeffect or perfect the condensation ofthe steam therein.

The accompanying drawing shows a vertical section of an apparatus withmy improvements.

A A' represent the main chambers, into which the water is raisedalternately, and from which it is expelled alternately, as hereinbeforereferred to. B is a suction-pipe, common to both chambers, andcommunicating therewith at their bottoms through valves C C', whichopen` inward. D D' are the waterdischarge pipes, extending downward fromthe tops of said chambers, and with their mouths or lower ends incommunication with the lower portions `of the chambers. Thesedischarge-pipes are provided, at some distance above their mouths, withvalves E E', opening outward. Arranged over the chambers A A' is avalve-box, F, provided with an intermediatesteam-supply pipe, G, andconnecting with the main or water chambers A A' by pipes H I and H I'.The pipes II' are only in communication with said water-chambers byperforations b, arranged in the lower portions of said pipes, andcovered or exposed by sleeves c c', or iioats J J', as said iloats areraised or lowered. These pipes I I' connect with enlarged end portionsofthe valve-box containing pistons d d of a compound valve, K, the rod ofwhich connects said pistons, and also carries smaller pistons, c c',arranged to `work in an intermediate portion of the valvebox. Thepistons c e serve to open and close the steam-pipes or inlets H H'accordingly as the valve is thrown by the pressure of the steam on itsone large piston d or d'. The floats J J', with their attached sleeves cc', have only a slight movement up and down the pipes I I', and arechecked in their upward movement by stops f j". When down, said floatsmay rest on springs L L'. M M' are smaller floats, arranged in the upperportions of the chambers A A', and provided with elongated sleeves g g',which, as said floats rise or fall, serve to cover or expose lowerperforations, h, in pipes i t', having check-valves 7c k', andconnecting the one main chamber with the other by upward extensions ZZ', having mounted on them sprinklers m m'.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the chamber A' to be filled withwater, and steam to be entering by the inlet H to expel the watertherefrom, the float J' will remain in its raised position, so as toclose the openings b in the pipe I', until toward the completion of thedescent of the water in said chamber, after which the float is forceddown upon the springs L', and the holes b in the pipe I' uncovered topass steam from the` chamber A' to the right hand of the valve-box F,and, by its pressure on the back of the piston d', causing the valve Kto be moved, so that it closes the steam-inlet H', and opens thesteam-inlet H, thus reversing the action of the apparatus. Immediatelyas this is done, the temporary rush of water from the discharge-pipe D'into the chamber A' raises the oat J', which action is assisted by thesprings L L', and the apertures in the pipe I' are closed, thuspreventing the vacuum in the chamber A' from producing a back action onthe valve K, and shutting off the steam before water is admitted toeffect condensation in said chamber. A like action takes place in eithermain chamber alternately as the valve K is thrown first to the one sideand then to the other, and as water is raised in one chamber from thesuction-pipe B it is being expelled from the other. As water is raisedin either chamber, A A', the float M or M' within said chamber islifted, so as to uncover the perforation h in the pipe i or i', and soallow of water passing from said chamber into the upper portion of theadjacent main chamber to effect or perfect the vacuum therein.

Each pipe I may be fitted, at its `junction with the valve-box F, with acheck-valve, y, opening upward and closing downward, for the purpose ofpreventing the piston d or d', after it has operated, from being drivenback by reason of the formation of the vacuum in the chamberA or A'before its valve c or c' closes.

What ishere claimed, and desired to be sccured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, herein described, withl the water-receivin g anddischarging chambers A A', of the floats J J', the pipes I I', havinglower perforations, b, the valve K, and steaminlets H H', whereby saidfloats, having only alimited movement, are caused to shut o the steamfrom their respective chambers before water is admitted to effectcondensation, essentially as herein set forth. a

2. The springs L L', in combination with the floats J J', the perforatedpipes I I', and the discharge-pipes D D' substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with chambers A A', of the floats M M', theperforated pipes z' i', the check-valves 7c 7c', and the upperextensions Z l', all arranged for operation essentially as described.

4. In an apparatus foi` raising water by the pressure of steam, asdescribed, I claim a float, J or J', with attached valve or valvularsleeve c or c', arranged and working on the exterior of a pipe,substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The check-valves y y, combined with the valve-box F and pipes I I',substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

WM. BURDON.

Witnesses FRED. HAYNES, FERD TUscH.

